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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Iahawk on June 24, 2020, 03:49:54 AM
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just need to vent about this...I went out for a nice after dinner motorcycle ride tonight. Beautiful weather in the low 70's, very light traffic. I rode for about 45 minutes and decided to come home. When I pulled off the main road into my neighborhood I wasn't quite ready to go home so I thought I'd take one last spin around the block.
1 block from my house, on a quiet 25 mph road I was ready to take a right turn. On the road I was turning onto was an oncoming car..a woman in a Mercedes who was distracted and talking to her passenger. She was turning left onto the road I was on. I noticed she was not looking at me and she was cutting the corner tight. Instead of her taking a 90 degree left turn she cut the angle and would have hit me head on had I not moved over to my right, almost to the curb.
In the moment I didn't hit my horn, just hit my brakes, hard. I gave her a What The F! flailing arm gesture. We were both stopped, almost face to face.(or front wheel to bumper?) She gave me the 'sorry' shoulder shrug.
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It also made me realize that the 3 'near death' experiences (I exaggerate, slightly) I've had have all been from clueless people in my neighborhood at 25 mph. They are completely not paying attention and would have killed me had I not been riding defensively.
My motorcycle had the brights on plus my super bright driving lights. My helmet is white and my leather jacket is white, red and black...I was not invisible. It really made me angry but I guess doesn't surprise me. People pay zero attention to the world around them.
So be safe and watch out for the clueless, inattentive drivers in your own neighborhood!
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You are so right Hawk. I’ve posted here before about UK research which states that most accidents happen within a mile of home! As the old Hill Street Blues Sergeant used to say, “Be careful out there”.
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That's the one thing I try to pass on to new riders about riding defensively, ride like everyone is out to get you. I don't know how many times people have pulled out in front of me or tried to change lanes with me already there. NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.
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In the days when I used to be an Advanced Motorcycle training instructor I pressed home a similar mantra. In my case I pointed out that the best defensive skill a rider could hone was a vivid imagination! In any given scenario what's the worst thing that could happen / go wrong and then to ride with that in mind. And your point is well made KK, a healthy dose of riding paranoia is no bad thing - some days they are all out to get you!
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"No imagination ", man, how many times I've used that phrase when talking to my kids about drivers and especially - riders!
I read somewhere that riders have fewer accidents while DRIVING compared to non-riders.
Many of us anyway....still too many riders out there riding like they're on a closed track.
I ride while most of my world is still in bed - for more than a few reasons. Can't recall the last time I was out on my scooter in daytime traffic since I no longer commuted home from work.
It's not for everyone. ...
Stig
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I do admire your grit & determination getting up at that hour to ride Tom! The pull of the bed is too great for me, I can do it as a one-off, but every day? Be too much like being back at work!
Still a good job you can do it, as where else would we get all those wonderful moody sunrise shots?
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Your not the only one Neil. I treasure being able to sleep in now that I'm retired. I still wake up early but this time of year I get my work done before noon because of the heat.
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A simple pleasure, but one which I too value!
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Hawk, you need to dump the neighborhood and move to the country! Around here, they straddle the line or the center even on blind hill crests plus cut every corner regardless of direction! Y'see, most of 'em learned to drive a tractor before a car or pickup and that's where large tractors fit, in the center! Har, har!
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Sitting behind handlebars and motoring along through the countryside as the world awakens is great.
When I was a kid in Paris, I loved walking the streets at dawn. The same in San Francisco. ....the bakeries smell great and -- they give out free stuff!
Here it's cow poop, wood smoke and - crossing I-70, diesel. (which is kind of a warm smell)
Certain dewy roadside brush smells like Fritos !
Anyway, glad you all stay in the sack.
Dislike tailgaters....you'd all be trying to get me to speed up😊
Stig
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Sitting behind handlebars and motoring along through the countryside as the world awakens is great.
When I was a kid in Paris, I loved walking the streets at dawn. The same in San Francisco. ....the bakeries smell great and -- they give out free stuff!
Here it's cow poop, wood smoke and - crossing I-70, diesel. (which is kind of a warm smell)
Certain dewy roadside brush smells like Fritos !
Anyway, glad you all stay in the sack.
Dislike tailgaters....you'd all be trying to get me to speed up😊
Stig
Stig I still wake up at 4:45. Now I can roll over and go back to sleep if I choose. Before it wasn't an option.
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You need to add the "Schwarzenegger" package on the side of the scooter to hold a sawed off shotgun...I sure a few rounds across the bow would wake them up.... :P
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Stig I still wake up at 4:45. Now I can roll over and go back to sleep if I choose. Before it wasn't an option.
When I retired I had 1644 hrs of paid sick leave accrued - just knowing I could call off was good enough. I got up and went.
Early on, I worked one week with an old city employee - every morning he rolled down the window of his big truck and announced that he had his 30 in - and might just quit if anyone messed with him.
It was nice when I found myself in the same position years later.
They did.
And I did.
That said - I still dream I'm at work a couple times a week.
Stig
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Stig odd you say that because I have dreamt I was at work in the middle of a crisis before. It was great when I woke up and realized I didn't have to deal with it. Very rare now to even think about work, although I do see people from work occasionally.
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Just a reminder for all riders.
I took the DMV approved Motorcycle course when I first got my license and one of the things they drill into our heads is always have an exit path at every moment and do not hesitate to commit.
I learned that and always look for my exit path. It is a habit. It could save your life.
Ride long and Prosper!
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I have about 9000 miles on my 2103 Supper 8. I don't think I have ever gone thru a major intersection wo looking all ways to make sure someone isn't running a red light.
I also watch for parked cars off to the side running whose wheels are turned to the road as if they may pull out.I may sound my horn when passing them.
I also do not stop in traffic right behind a car and leave a good gap in case the car behind me is distracted and may rear end me. If I feel the car behind me is not stopping, maybe I can then move to the side. So Im constantly looking through my rear view mirror.
Any car in the opposing lane that is taking a left turn, I will try to move right a bit to give extra room to try and avoid but thats hard if it happens and one of the biggest causes of cycle accidents.
I use hand signals a lot when turning and cars are behind me just in case they dont see my turn signals.
I wear bright clothing and have added led light to brighten up my front end and rear end.
I always assume cars are blinded by the sun. I always assume cars are texting.
Having to be constantly nervous and defensive takes some of the fun out of scooter driving, but its necessary. I make sure some low ridden country roads are part of my trip as most of my scooter riding is recreational.
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Chris some very good advice. A lot of the things you are saying is taught by Smith driving courses taught by most fortune 500 companies. At work had to take it every year along with fire training, cpr-first aid and a bucket load of cbt's
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Thanks.
You just don't buy a 49cc scooter and ride it because it doesn't require a MC endorsement. You need to study how to ride it as safely as possible. It really concerns me when you see teens buying the VIP's form a big lot store and they are off riding around in sandals and no helmet. I have taken it seriously for the start and still have what happened to one of our members that lost his leg in the back of my mind to this day when I'm out on the streets.
If anyone wants me to be quiet and sit down and listen to them, just talk to me about scooter safety and defensive driving. I have seen so much of what can and has happened to scooter riders that take things to casually or drive recklessly it scares me to be the safest I can. A lot of what I've seen has been from Asia were they are just crazy with their scooters.
Kinda reminds of of the old days when the would show the video Signal 30 in MV school to scare new drivers. (thats actually on youtube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VKOoenqbOk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VKOoenqbOk)
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I don't normally like posting Live Leak vids on forums but sometimes we can learn from reality.
SFW
But this is why I don't like to just motor through intersections. I like to pause a bit ans see what the traffic on the sides streets of the intersection are doing.
https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=kfNtT_1593195786 (https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=kfNtT_1593195786)
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Was at Dan's Cycle Saturday and parked out back was a Honda gold wing trike. The trike had been hit by a car on the left rear cornor. The impact sent the bike sliding sideways until it straightened out and rolled over on the rider killing him. If it would have been a second later the car would have missed the bike because it only caught the back 18" of the bike. Very tragic indeed.
To be honest I was a little apprehensive about selling my People 150. I figured a inexperienced rider might purchase and didn't want the responsibility of them hurting themselves. I was relieved when it was purchased by a older gentleman to replace his tall dual sport bike.
I cringe when I see people riding in flip flops shorts and no protective gear and not really paying attention but not a darn thing I can do about it. I received several calls on the People 150 from young people wanting a scooter they didn't need a motorcycle license for. I would try to explain if they took a rider safety course they would receive a certificate that would enable them to get a motorcycle license. They didn't want to hear that, instant gratification I guess.
I know two people locally that have lost their sons to bike accidents, one my next door neighbor. He goes out every so often to cut the grass by the side of the highway where he was killed and a white cross is located. The other was a ridding buddy of mine from the seventies. His son was killed in Hutchison KS at a intersection. When my cousin was killed (a motorcycle safety instructor) in 2003 I seriously thought of giving up riding. I enjoy it to much and I will die sooner or later anyway so why not enjoy life while your here.
So if I get a little prechy on safety you know why.
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From training class. Lesson number One. You get on two wheels you take your life in your hands.
I wanted to add to the conversation with don't be in a hurry to pull out into an intersection as soon as the light turns green. I have seen red light runners too many times. I take time to actually turn my head left and right and not just be moving my eyes.
Ride long and Prosper.
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People trying to use a yellow light or the moment between changes are a common danger here in town.
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People trying to use a yellow light or the moment between changes are a common danger here in town.
Daughter's supervisor got nailed coming in to work yesterday --- turning on an 'orange' light. A lady sped up to get through it. (no insurance, expired license)
Good lesson for my daughter.
WAIT, for your green turn arrow.
Stig
A few years ago, as a passenger, with some coworkers, going to our Xmas luncheon - our idiot young driver seriously sped up ('floored it') as we approached the tunnel of stopped cars at a large multi-lane & congested intersection.
A block down the street, I got out of the car. Flagged a ride with another coworker.
Ruined our already lousy work relationship for a few weeks, until he was fired for other stupidities.